It is not really a room! The Property Unit is actually an organization within the organization. Keeping track of recovered stolen property, lost and found property, and dealing with seized contraband is a big job.
2005 Annual Property Room Statistics:
44,430 items of incoming property processed from 19,149 cases
1,222 guns received
1,776 guns destroyed
45.0 tons of property disposed
$89,702 of unclaimed money turned in to Pierce County Budget & Finance
Drugs destroyed from 6,739 cases
24,066 disposal/release transactions completed
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Information and FAQ:
- Mission Statement
- What Is The Property Room?
- How Do I Report Lost, Stolen Or Found Items?
- How Can I Find My Lost or Stolen Property?
- What Happens To Found Property If an Owner Isn't Located?
- The Property Room Is Holding My Property, How Do I Get It Back?
- Auctions - Unclaimed or Abandoned Property
- Appointment Policy
- Contact Us
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The law enforcement property function exists to receive and safely store evidence, found property, and property for safekeeping; and to timely restore the property to its rightful owner, or legally dispose of the property.
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The Property Room stores evidence, safekeeping and found property for both the Tacoma Police and the Pierce County Sheriff's Departments (to include contract cities of University Place and Edgewood). Property Officers are responsible for retrieving, securing and storing property and ensuring proper chain-of-custody in the event evidence is needed for court proceedings. Our eight full-time Property Officers and one office assistant service 1,790 square miles - home to approximately 713,400 people!
In addition, the Property Room disposes of narcotics; illegal, unclaimed or unwanted weapons and other property; and endeavor to return found property to the rightful owner(s). Disposal methods include incineration, melting and auction.
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To report an item stolen, found, or a firearm lost in Pierce County, please call the Communications Center's non-emergency line at (253) 798-4721. Provide the operator with as much information as possible, including the item's make, model, serial number or owner applied number.
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The best way to find property once it is lost or stolen is to have up-to-date records, pictures or video noting serial and model numbers if available, or to place an 'owner applied number' on items without a serial number. Unique numbers make identifying and matching items to the rightful owner simpler, as a national database is used to track stolen and recovered items via serial number once the item is reported lost, stolen or found. However, if this information is not available, a detailed description will help, as will a general idea of when and where the property was lost or stolen.
The Property Room holds found property for 60 days, after which time items may be disposed of or auctioned. Items of a personal nature (such as identification or credit cards) are destroyed, or (in the case of a passport or mail) returned to the proper agency.
To see if the Property Room is holding your found property, please be prepared to answer the following questions:
- What is the property and description?
- Does it have a serial number?
- Where and when was it lost or stolen?
- Did you report it lost or stolen?
The Property Room will make every effort to return property to the rightful owner(s). If an item is turned in where it can be traced back to someone by name, phone number, address or serial number, a Property Officer will attempt to contact the owner via phone or letter to make arrangements to return the item.
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Depending on the item's condition, after 60 days the item will either be disposed of or auctioned. The person who finds the property, may request to claim the property if an owner is not found within the required time period. Claim paperwork may be obtained from the Property Room by calling (253) 798-7522 or (253) 591-5984 and must be filed within 7 days.
After receiving claim paperwork, the Property Room will place an ad in The News Tribune. If no owner appears within the 60 days, the finder may claim the item for a $10 fee.
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Safekeeping and Found Property:
Once ownership is determined or can be proved, call the Property Room to schedule an appointment. It is recommended that an appointment be scheduled at least two (2) days in advance. You must show picture identification at the appointment and bring proof of ownership if required.
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If You Are a Victim and Charges Were Filed:
Contact the Victim Advocate Section (see phone numbers below) and make arrangements for a Property Release to be sent to the Property Room. The person who will retrieve the property must be named on the Property Release. Once the Property Room receives the Property Release, you must call to make an appointment to retrieve the property. It is recommended that you schedule the appointment at least two (2) days in advance. You must show picture identification at the appointment.
Superior Court (253) 798-6875
Juvenile Cases (253) 798-3400
District Court (253) 798-7446
Tacoma Municipal Court (253) 591-5834
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If You Are a Defendant and Charges Were Filed:
Contact your attorney or assigned counsel (see phone number below) and make arrangements for a Property Release to be sent to the Property Room. The Property Release will be forwarded from the Prosecuting Attorney; however, you must work through your representative. The person who will retrieve the property must be named on the Property Release. Once the Property Room receives the Property Release, you must call to make an appointment to retrieve the property. It is recommended that you schedule the appointment at least two (2) days in advance. You must show picture identification at the appointment.
Department of Assigned Counsel (253) 798-6062
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If You Are A Victim or Defendant and No Charges Were Filed:
Contact the officer or deputy who submitted the property and request a Property Release be sent to the Property Room. The person who will retrieve the property must be named on the Property Release. You may get the name of the submitting officer/deputy by contacting LESA Records at (253) 798-7441. Once the Property Room receives the Property Release, you must call to make an appointment to retrieve the property. It is recommended that you schedule the appointment at least two (2) days in advance. You must show picture identification at the appointment.
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Auctions -- Unclaimed or Abandoned Property:
Unclaimed or abandoned property items are auctioned (by Pierce County contract) through James G. Murphy, Inc. (1-800-426-3008).
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